What is "Splits Terrari"?

[miss marple]

Hello all

I have a copy of a will of a Middlesex ancestor in which it says he is of "Splits Terrari (or just possibly Splits Terran), Church Lane, in the Parish of Saint George, in the east of the county of Middlesex". (I have got several people to have a squint at the writing and we are all agreed that this is what it says.)

Does anyone have any idea what "Splits Terrari" means? It's such an odd-sounding name that I'm intrigued! I can't find anything like it on the web, or in a search of Latin terms.

Perhaps some knowledgable RootsChatter can enlighten me?

Jane

[Biker]

Hi Jane

I think what it may mean is Spliot's Terrace (or Spliots Terrace)  which was just off Backchurch Lane (sometimes referred to as Back Church Lane or Church Lane) in St George in the East.
You can have a look here http://www.motco.com/Map/81006/ which is a 1862 map.  Click on Everard Street in the index and once you find it on the map (it's near the middle) Spilot's Terrace is just south of it.

An odd name indeed  but I thought it rang a bell 

Hope that helps.
Jonathan

[miss marple]

Jonathan, I'm so impressed!

I'm sure you're right – on the will the first word is definitely written as Splits, but looking at the second word again I can see that it could well be Terrace. I remember now that I have come across a small "c" written just like an "r" in other wills before.

That map is great – I had come across Greenwoods 1827 (http://users.bathspa.ac.uk/greenwood/index.html) but now I have the 1862 to go with it. It's wonderful to be able to pinpoint the place where an ancestor lived.

I wonder who Spliot was?!

Many thanks once again – that has to be my speediest reply ever, and to a question I really didn't expect anyone to be able to answer! You are an absolute star!

Jane

[Biker]

Jane

Glad that helped you out, some of my families came from this area so it rang a bell somehow.

I have no idea who or what Spliot was I'm afraid, though it sounds an interesting name.  As it is close to the Thames a lot of the people who lived in this area worked in maritime/dock related industries as well as sugar baking.  It attracted many immigrant families and had a large transient population who lived side-by-side with the 'locals'.  Not sure if there is a clue in there somewhere ... 

Anyway, good luck with your research.

Regards
Jonathan